The Two Edged Sword

"Tell it not in Gath"

 “Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all…” (Micah 1:10) 

What in the world does this verse mean?! As I studied the book of Micah, what I learned about this verse struck me as particularly poignant. The prophet Micah predicts an upcoming calamity upon the divided kingdom of Israel. Israel’s enemies lived in Gath. When Micah wrote, “Tell it not in Gath”, he meant, “Don’t let our enemies know of our impending calamity.” And why didn’t Micah want Israel’s enemies to know?  Micah knew they would rejoice in Israel’s troubles. This is sad to me. Micah was called by God to make a prophecy that he wished he did not have to make. Like every Israeli at the time, he especially didn’t want his enemies to know…Tell it not in Gath!

 Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever faced a really tough or even embarrassing set of circumstances which you wish no one else knew about. But at least your family and friends will love you and support you through it. If only you could keep those who might rejoice in your problems from ever knowing!

              Fortunately this is not Micah’s last word on the topic. He later revisits this question, sounding more hopeful. In Micah 7: 8-9 he writes,

“Do not rejoice over me O my enemy. Though I fall, yet I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness.”

             Praise be to God, because of Him we too can tell our enemies, “Do not rejoice over me; though I fall, by God’s help, yet I will rise! God will someday bring me out into the light once again!”